Lenten Season Has Arrived

During this season of Lent, instead of just giving up chocolate or coffee, 
maybe we can also try to do something even more.

Just some ideas:

Pray for the people in your life who have disappointed you or hurt you

Walk, carpool, bike or bus ride to work and school

Don’t always flip on the car radio but spend the time is silence enjoying the world around you

Brighten someone’s day. Send a card, email, or phone a family member, friend, or acquaintance that shows you’re thinking about, and praying for, him/her

Look out of your window until you find something lovely you had not noticed before

Give items of clothing to Goodwill

Try to spend one day a week without a single complaint

Buy a few fast food gift cards to give to needy people you encounter

Call or write an old friend you haven't heard from in awhile

Pay a few sincere compliments to others

Forgive someone even if they don't deserve it. YOU deserve it

Take a no shopping day...maybe even a no shopping week! Spend that money on those who truly need the help and not on another purse or pair of shoes

Write a thank you note to your favorite teacher or spiritual person

Donate art supplies to your local elementary school or senior center

Worship at a friend’s mosque, synagogue or church and look for the beauty in other religions

Volunteer once a week. At a soup kitchen, your church, local school, whatever!

Have a family game night

Put up a bird feeder

Read a book aloud as a family

Try an eat no sugar day 

Plant a tree

Send flowers

Give $20 to a local non-profit

Take time out of Twitter, Facebook etc and instead spend time on meditation and prayer

Give up anger and be more patient. Try to be more understanding and patient with people.

Give up being judgmental.

Give up gossiping. Remember once you say it you can never take it back

Resolve to perform one random act of kindness each day. Hold a door open, let someone get in line first, do somebody’s chores for them, pay for someone else's order at a fast food drive through, pick up a stranger's tab at a restaurant...

Go to an art museum or a botanical gardens and just rejoice in the beauty

Take time to plan out and cook a healthy meal. Use your local markets and farm stands when possible.

Make cookies and give a few to people who help you every day: crossing guards, librarians, mail carriers, fire fighters, etc...Cook and deliver a meal to someone who could use it

Smile at strangers

Let someone merge in front of you 

Spend 10 minutes each night talking to God about your day–thanking Him for the good and the bad and asking for the grace to be a better person the next day

~~~~~~~~~~


May this Spring bring you joy and warm your heart as it warms your face. 
The long Winter is almost over!
And remember, we can change this world for the good 
with one act of kindness at a time.

Warmly,
Susie Q